Commenting on a CNN report that White House officials are losing confidence that Ukraine can ever regain Russian-occupied territory (see post 8.19), he said views continue to change over whether Ukraine will win the war. “People need to watch the big picture: this war is being waged in three parts,” he said. Professor Clark, a former director of the United States Institute (RUSI), said it appeared the Russians would take the small gap in the still-disputed eastern Donbass region. Russian forces already control most of the region. “Ukrainians are retreating, as they should – they do not want to be trapped,” he said. “Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are attacking north and south of Izyum. “They are attacking Kharkov quite slowly and making quite large gains in the southwest around Kherson. “What the Ukrainians will lose in Donbas may well be won in the north and south.” He said Ukraine was going to receive more military aid, but would not arrive until the autumn. “They are going through a very dangerous period and their guess, I guess, is to try to lose as little land as possible until the pendulum swings in their favor, which should be done later in the summer,” he said. “More people in uniform than the Russians and more weapons.” Clark stressed that Ukrainian forces had to “stay” until more ammunition arrived. “They have to stay for next month and not hit hard until all these new things come,” he said. “It has always been a dangerous period and I think we have to accept it, but watch the big picture. “They lose in one place – they retire in one place, they win in two others.” He added: “From now on they must continue, they must lose as little ground as possible because recovering it is not at all impossible, but it will require a different kind of war on their part. . “
