Ukraine is in a race against time to fortify its front line

EARLIER THIS year, a common view was that the war in Ukraine was . That now seems optimistic. There is an alarming possibility that a big new Russian push in the next few months could punch through Ukraine’s defences and deep into the country.Since the , a bitterly fought-over coking town in Donetsk province, Russian forces have been pressing hard in eastern Ukraine. Although Russia paid a high price in blood and equipment to take Avdiivka—up to 17,000 of its soldiers may have been killed—its forces are pushing as far west of the town as they can, trying to stop Ukraine from forming stronger defensive lines there. So far, they have only taken some seven to ten kilometres. But a bigger push is expected in the summer.