Damaged? It's on the bottom of the harbor.

Most leading politicians did absolutely not understanding that hesitation costs not only many Ukrainian (and Russian) lifes, it costs also more and more and more money, which this war consumes over the time. I am strongly disappointed by Biden, Scholz and mainly Macron - low qualification for this job. Brits, Scandinavians and Balts have better politicians, this war did show this very clearly.

I have to admit the truth is very painful, seeing the west dragging its feet makes me ashamed of our leaders. Thank you for sharing this very educated no nonsense piece.

The West and America should have and could be more helpful! Their half-hearted support is pathetic. God bless brave Ukraine in defense of its land! A realistic view of Ukraine's outlook and losses, thank you Dr Frank Ledwidge!

The complete list of 70 countries supplying military and/or humanitarian aid to Ukraine: *NATO Countries* - United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Poland, Turkey, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia. *The European Union* (excluding those also in NATO, already mentioned above). Austria, Republic of Cyprus, Sweden, Ireland, Malta. For the first time in its history, the EU is financing the purchase and delivery of arms. Well over 450 million euros provided so far to Kyiv alone. *Other Countries* Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, China - Red Cross, Colombia, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Mongolia, Pakistan, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. *The UN General Assembly resolution to condemn Russia’s annexations in Ukraine passed by a massive 143 to 5 margin. 45 countries including China, India and Iran abstained or declined to vote.* Not only will Russia not retain ANY of the territory it has stolen, but it will be totally bankrupted when it’s forced to pay reparations to rebuild every last brick it has destroyed in Ukraine. Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

Thank you UK! We in the US are an embarrassment compared to your support! Yes, lots of dollars, but compared to our budget it’s not much more than a rounding error!

The amount of wishful thinking and hope-chess by Western leaders is shocking. We STILL haven't learned the lessons from the counter-offensive that there are actual consequences for just saying "hey, let's wait a while before giving Ukraine the weapons it needs, maybe it can do fine without them". There was a German minister who said they saw no military need for Ukraine to get Taurus yet. I mean WHAT? We've seen the difference a handful of storm shadows have made. It's one of the only reasons Ukraine has kept the Black Fleet at bay and so kept its shipping lanes for grain export open.

If it weren't for the American support. This war would, already be lost ! US Navy Vet ! !

I like this man for his honesty in acknowledging the limits of his knowledge. I get tired of people pontificating on anything and everything well beyond their experience

Ukraine has to get real military support

So the guy actually said that Ukraine has been shelling Donetsk since 2014. Interesting......

Ukraine MUST have the correct weapons. Not just old stock which was due to replaced

SLAVA UKRAINE 🇺🇦

Ukraine created fish reefs in the black sea with russian naval assets

Times Radio needs to have Frank on more regularly.

Dr. Frank Ledwidge said it the way it is and hopefully, Ukraine gets the help they need Thank You Guys for this informative conversation. Slava Ukraine and the Free World !!!!

I usually on the whole agree with Frank, but not this time, I think he is 'far too overly pessimistic...' although I do agree with him setting up long term sustainable support, and that it is absurd that Biden has not been more forthright with weapons! And Ben Hodges spoke of getting to Crimea this year on the basis of support being maintained and increasing with more modern weapons, which hasn't happened as it should have? This however is why I think Frank is being too pessimistic, as I've said on a number of comments: He doesn't entirely consider the Russian supply lines cut-off, the planes downed, the Russian troop losses which Putin has been trying to hide since the beginning of the war... and this is becoming increasing untenable. And the fact Russia doesn't have the capacity to build much in the way of new weaponry, because they need chips from the West! Or the fact the Russian economy which is on the brink, and their currency reserves are nearly exhausted?

What happen is that Europe got to complacent and never thought Russia would invade another country but they did . Europe military should have been ready many many years ago for this kind of scenario but you can see they're not. The U.S can't fix all of the world problems and especially in Israel they need to figure that out themselves , and if Trump is elected President things are going to change real quick what nobody knows .

Giving up land will not stop the Russians. So unless they have better defensive positions, withdrawal just moves the battles to different areas.

Loses may have no relevance to the Russians but logistical needs are. People forget while the Red Army was willing to lose every last man to beat the wehrmacht during WW2, it was the United States and UK that supplied them.

In principle, I'm all for Dr. Ledwidge's suggestion of sending 500 Abrams. HOWEVER, prior concerns about supporting the 'mere' 31 we're sending remain valid, and would be amplified by roughly a factor of 500/31 = 16+. The aforementioned issues were #1 - logistical support (transport trucks, fuel trucks, ammo trucks, ammo housing and re-supply , maintenance/service trucks, specialized tanks for recovery and mine clearing, service parts, etc.), and #2 - personnel and training. In addition to multiple crews of 4 per tank, there 15 perhaps 20 supporting personnel per tank to keep them supplied, repaired and running. So, 500 tanks equates to well over 10,000 trained personnel. Dr. Ledwidge did not hint at the details, let alone the scale of what’s involved in supplying, ‘feeding’ and maintaining 500 70 ton tanks. I question if that would be an effective use of so much personnel and effort. Dr. Ledwidge also describes a more balanced military (artillery, missiles, drones (FPV and otherwise), fighter jets (F-16, Gripen, etc.), ATACM, Storm Shadow, LOTS more 155mm shells (especially the Excalibur and Copperhead), missile defense systems, counter battery systems, light armored vehicles (e.g. Bradley's and equivalents), small/fast boats, mobile bridge systems, ATVs/UTVs, night vision systems, materials to fabricate hardened revetments, etc. Maybe 'just' 100 Abrams are initially needed in order to first determine their utility and Ukraine's ability to man them. Another aid which few mention yet was/is used by Russia is NATO funded mercenaries, especially those with extensive skills with the more advanced weapons with which the Ukraine military may have very little experience. As a political aside, while it is commendable that European NATO and EU members are providing a lot of humanitarian aid, last I read, the U.S. is providing well over double the amount of military aid than the rest of NATO COMBINED. Additionally, many NATO members STILL have not increased their defense spending to the minimum 2% of GDP, let alone beyond that in order to address the Russian threat (Poland being the most notable exception). Face it, this is a SERIOUS problem. It reveals that Europe as a whole is no match for Russia by itself. It also feeds a right wing, republican narrative (i.e. excuse) about NATO not doing its part. Europe needs to step up its ‘game’ to invalidate these observations.

Barristers aren't usually very good at military logistics and strategy. Ukraine is also working 'behind the scenes' to destroy Russian naval, logistics and fuel supplies. The action doesn't all take place on the front.

Fairly sober assessment of current situation in Ukraine. The response to the last question to a degree contradicts the goals for the longer-term plan suggested by the Dr.

I didn't know what he meant by europeans propaganda but then he elaborated he thought it was the dream to conquer Tokmak and reach the coast. I just can't believe he would use the word propaganda. He was unfairly harsh in his judgement of the Ukrainian capability but I can see his judgement is very clouded by his obvious grief of losing 2 people on the frontline. So whatever they did was thus wrong. I disagree but then I do not know anyone personally who was killed on the front and am thus not biased in that way to what was or wasn't a good decision. Lets be clear though, the Russians spreading lies about Ukraine is propaganda. Claiming the war is a denazification - that is propaganda. Blatant lying to brainwash and influence peoples decisions. To call Ukraines ambitions as propaganda is incredibly harsh in my opinion. They might have been pessimistically optimistic in their ambitions to free their land but to call that mabition propaganda? That offended me.

Perhaps the US sees their initial ~ 31 Abrams as a base of knowledge, OPSEC is easier (yes we have Abrams, but we are not saying how many; a strategic shell game) after which they 100% should use your suggestion for the old stored ex US Marine Abrams. 500 tanks would make a difference.

We perhaps hear an echo of Ben Hodges here. The US has thousands of tanks sitting idle, and they send just 31 to Ukraine? The US dragged it's feet on F16's for over a year while the UR and RU casualties mounted. Dr Ledwidge and Ben Hodges might be in agreement, that US and European leaders have never committed to say that they want Ukraine to prevail in this conflict, and their actions, and the results, clearly show this.

One of the very best videos on this war! Thanks. A super-excellent - and super-obvious way of thinking: long-term programs! Long-term, SERIOUS commitment! It's so obvious. Biggest mystery? WHY it hadn't been started by 18 months ago or since, and why it isn't being done now.

Does anyone really expect the US to fight a war in the Pacific at this point? As an American seeing our failure to stop Russia and prevent what I see as a second front I honestly don't think we will. Not under our leadership, whichever one wins the next election. It's both sad and terrifying.

It took 6mths to modify 30 Abram tanks to the export version. Do you think the US military would trust Ukraine with real Abram tanks ?

Yeah, the time for a quick win has unfortunately passed and I appreciate the hard look perspective at the current situation. If things are to proceed towards a favorable outcome for Ukraine, there needs to be a commitment to a long term strategy.

I really appreciate his honesty. We've seriously let Ukraine down. My best friend in UA said the soldiers LOVE the NATO rifles we sent, but they rarely get to use them because 5.56mm ammo is so rare. Are you kidding me? We have tons of 5.56, it's the standard NATO small arms round, how on earth do they have more stockpiled and domestically produced 5.45mm Soviet than 5.56mm NATO? We don't have any excuse for that, it's cheaper and easier to produce than artillery shells!

It's expensive to store obsolete equipment that could be sent to Ukraine.

Idk why, but this seems to consistently be the best source of Ukraine-Russia war analysis. I'm not terrible at reading people's motivations, so maybe it's your genuine acute caring about the subject showing through that's so convincing.

Nato countries in Europe have lots of older late cold war decommissioned equipment like Leapard-1s, Weisels and Gepards that are sitting in storage. The Abrams is to heavy for Ukrainian bridges, requires to much maintenance and is vulnerable to ATGMs as much as any other tanks. Bradlys are being replaced slowly and are very plentiful so are Paladins which are also being replaced with a newer design and lots of HIMARS with older ATACMs.

Somebody like myself been out for awhile, Has no idea what is going on presently in Ukraine! No disrespect

Some interesting points from a good guest.

He was on point!

Donetsk city has been in artillery range of the ukr forces for 11 years. But importantly, it has not been destroyed unlike severodonetsk, Mariupol, bahkmut , soledar plus many many more. It always worth pointing out this distinction, "Russian Peace" does not care about the lives of civilians.

I think that sooner or later the 100s of tanks, mobile artillery pieces, SUVs and IFVs from the US will come. The saga of the Leopards, ATACMS and F16s shows the way. Expect prevarication, and arsing around in the meantime but, sooner or later the realisation will set in that Russian defeat in Ukraine is both necessary and desirable and that much like Vietnam, a nuclear power can loose a ground war, without escalating to the insanity of nuclear war. Can we just skip to the part where the Abrams arrives in Ukraine in the 310s not in the 31s ?

Make no misstake..Europe/Nato WILL NOT GIVE Ukraine to Russia..PERIOD🇺🇦🇸🇪👍

Those holding up the aid should be ashamed of themselves.

Great to hear some sober analysis and not just Ukraine boosterism

Excellent guest.

Excellent analysis, cogent and persuasive.

Always a reality check to hear Frank.

The NATO desperation here is greater than how absolutely crazy desperate I was to try to get my first kiss in high school during the final song of prom. And just like me at prom NATO here won’t get what they’re hoping for.

The USA AND NATO Needs to Step up !!!! And give Ukraine what they need to Win!!! If America does another Afghanistan then the trust of the Americans will be Finished nobody will ever trust them ever Again.

Australia also has a lot of functioning military gear that will NEVER be used by Australia but would be very useful for Ukraine... e.g. 59 x M1A1 Abrams tanks and 41 x F/A-18 fighter jets. Unfortunately, the atrophied moral fortitude of our Prime Minister (Albanese), Foreign Minister (Wong) and Defence Minister (Marles) does not bode well for Ukraine.

Very good giving Russians what they want to know

With attitude "we will help a little bit, but you are on your own" the West already lost, now every small country is vulnerable. Long-term full support for Ukraine is the only way for the West to dig themselves out of this mess.

He's a genius, credentials, better late than never ASAP

Yes this is correct. In amy fight, you do not say what you plan to do. But Frank, rest assured, exactly ehat you described is being implemented by all allies against Russian fascist regime.

He puts forward interesting and relevant facts that are already well- known and must of course be faced militarily - but the obligatory fatalistic predictions by crystal ball gazers from the UK also need to be taken with a large mound of salt. Such predictions or surmises make me think of football commentators betting on which team will perform well or not.

So much good advice

TWO big imortant Russian ships hit and 4 fighter planes is a stalemate?????????? wow. I thnk that is crazy thinking.

Someone who sounds like he actually knows and understands the reality of the situation in Ukraine. 😱🤯

Frank definitely thinks the UK is top dog when it comes to "strategies". He makes a lot of good points. Also pointing fingers doesn't fix anything.

UK should have a 10% war income tax and just buy them from the US.

So ridiculous putin's vintage army

Excellent service by British made Storm Shadow.

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

Ukrainians' fight better if they can trust our support with western arms. If Ukraine gets what Ledwidge mentioned they can feel how their army grows in capabilities.

Thought the British Doubled its Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine to 28 !!!!!!

Why they didnt ask this keyboard general if not bakhmut where you defend and if not avdikva where you defend ? If loss is the main reason not to defend why different any place at all ?

250 amputes per day. 1750 per week. 91000 a year.

Stop Putin NOW. Stop acting like cowards and show him some real force because that is the only language bullies understand.

Those glorified ferries have an important role in russian logistics. Especially when the bridge is down ...

“Control of the western Black Sea” and “no significant Surface assets”…… Perfect! (Chef’s kiss).

The USA has so many nuc subs that it gives them away, if Australia got two, how many did the UK get?

The hegemony is over.

honest and realistic take, hope it will prove to have been pessimistic.

A man lost in the desert will drink water anywhere. This war will not be won on the Black Sea

US and possibly NATo members wish to keep an even balance in being able to help Ukraine defend itself whilst all 3 keeping enough in reserve to defend from an invasion or attack by an opportunist such as China/India/Iran/Korea

The Russian fleet can fire their cruise missiles anywhere in the black sea !

NATO's last chance to stop Putin from doing what?

I absolutely agree that Ukraine ‘s a chance to stop Putin aggression,/ invasion. Let’s support Ukraine with all possibilities.

Hats off to this dude that is the most unbiased realistic overview of the current situation in ukraine you'll ever see. And it's killing him to say avdiivka WILL fall, and there won't be another counter offensive. Basically knows the war is lost. The only question is when and at what cost to ukraine. Sad.

Thank you Frank and Times Radio for this excellent interview. Have a wonderful day everyone! ❤ Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

Ukraine is running out of troops basically and they really need rockets, missiles, aviation to compensate for scarce resources

The ship is completely destroyed. Not damaged! It's on a bottom of Black Sea.

Marinka had 9k citizens 😊

Well that was Frank

NATO needs to keep growing and learning from Ukraine starting now with full membership for Australia

The word you were looking for to describe Avdiivka is "Cauldon" or "Pocket". The German word is "Kessel" (kettle).

Finally, a message with a sense of authenticity based on actual facts. Thank you Dr Ledwidge. I'm so sick of the relentless propaganda about supposed Ukrainian victories and advances which ultimately prove a chimera.

Aloha24🙏🏽🐬🌻

If one looks at the war in a purely technical sense, like what kit is needed in which situation to win a battle and by that means eventually the war, it does not account for the larger picture. And that boils down to nukes. Russia has a tradition of dissing its leader if he "loses" a war. If it were an average country noby would shed a tear over that. But the concern which I suspect robs western leaders of their sleep is the vast arsenal of nukes in Russia. If there is again a period with a destabilized society like in the 90s the proliferation of nuclear material and weaponry becomes a huge concern. Nobody can seriously predict what a failed country, like e.g. happened in Iraq, would mean in case of Russia. So western leaders prefer a dictatorship with a tight grasp on the nuclear aresenal over any kind of liberated, defeated, atomized Russia (sorry for the pun!). So the approach is to help Ukraine without resutling in Russia to be destabilized. Which, given the tradition of firing the incumbent leader, means Russia must not lose. In the sense that the public and structures remain intact. So the bet of the West is to have Putin come to his (our) senses and declare victory even when it is not. That entails every effort not get full out with Ukraine and hand them whatever their desire is. I think it is a dangerous bet. And an inhumane too. It means the West depends on Putin to make a decision. And that can take time during which many, many people (Ukrainians and Russians will die. And to think the West can really be in command of this process is an illusion which should have been be done away with given the totally wrong assessments regarding Putin's ideas and also the Russian army. It simply shows poor intelligence and a lot of wishful thinking. In my view only a decisive attempt of the West to supply everything thinkable will send Putin the message he cannot win. This lukewarm cooking of the frog will not do it. Or at a great price and an uncertain outcome. To stay in the picture, if the frog gets burnt when he steps into the water he will retreat immediately.

Any updates on all the tanks Ukraine got ? What happened to those ?

"French Scalp missiles"? You forgot to remove that part guys!

Ambarassing? Artillery in range of Donetsk? Is it ambarassing? When artillery is fire at city where live ordinary people?

😂😂😂 "Ukraine isn't fighting fair, they don't even have a Navy" Putin 😭

It’s fake news that Russia wants to invade a NATO’s member.😂😂😂😂

Frankie Frankie for the past two years you told us that Ukraine and NATO was winning.

When Dr Frank is talking in his low British voice I turn the station it's too hard to enjoy

SLAVA UKRAINI. GLORIA ❤❤❤

He forgets that Russian materiel is of poor quality, largely ineffectuve, old and easily destroyable....

It’s predicted Russia will run out of cash in 2024. Can Russian economy support this war in the long term. This is ignored in this war overview.

As the UK lost in the Falklands?

Dream on.

And what are the Ukraine army going to be equipped with? The US admitted a couple of months ago that they are running seriously low on, especially, artillery shells, and the NATO commander, Rob Bauer, said a similar time ago the NATO was 'looking at the bottom of the barrel' in terms of what arms could be supplied to Ukraine.