The West pushes for “victory” against Russia in Ukraine

“WE GOTTA MOVE at the speed of war,” declared Lloyd Austin, America’s defence secretary, as he signalled a new, more intense phase in the West’s effort to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion. It involves providing more and heavier weapons, sustaining the effort for months and, above all, embracing the belief that Ukraine can now “win”.America’s novel sense of purpose was apparent after Mr Austin and Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, returned from a furtive visit to Kyiv on April 24th. The Ukrainians, Mr Austin said, “have the mindset that they want to win; we have the mindset that we want to help them win.” What is more, he said, “We want to see Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine.”