Below are a number of New York Times headlines which represent the propaganda narrative about Ukraine as it has changed over time.
'Ukraine is winning' was the direction of stories issued from April 2022 up to August 2023.
- Can Ukraine Keep Winning? – Apr 20, 2022
As a new phase of the war begins, we look at Russia’s advantages — and Ukraine’s.
- For Ukraine, So Much Unexpected Success, and Yet So Far to Go – Nov 22, 2022
Ukraine is on the offensive along most of the 600-mile front line, and the Russians are in a defensive crouch. But about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory is still occupied by Russia.
- Ukraine Makes ‘Tactically Significant’ Progress in Its Counteroffensive – Aug 12, 2023
Troops advanced several miles along two main lines of attack in Kyiv’s drive to reach the southern coast and sever Russian supply lines, while explosions echoed at the vital Kerch Strait Bridge.
When it was finally acknowledged that the Ukrainian 'counteroffensive' had failed the narrative moved towards 'it's a stalemate' which was used to describe the situation up to the fall of 2024.
- Who’s Gaining Ground in Ukraine? This Year, No One. – Sep 8, 2023
Although both sides have launched ambitious offensives, the front line has barely shifted. After 18 months of war, a breakthrough looks more difficult than ever.
- U.S. Officials Say Russia Is Unlikely to Take Much More Ukrainian Territory – Jul 9, 2024
Russian forces continue to inflict pain, but NATO leaders gathering in Washington can say that their efforts to strengthen Ukraine are working.
We are now arriving at a phase where the narrative can no longer ignore the objective reality. Ukraine is losing the war. Russia is winning.
- As Russia Advances, U.S. Fears Ukraine Has Entered a Grim Phase (archived) – Nov 1, 2024
Weapons supplies are no longer Ukraine’s main disadvantage, American military officials say.
> American military and intelligence officials have concluded that the war in Ukraine is no longer a stalemate as Russia makes steady gains, and the sense of pessimism in Kyiv and Washington is deepening.
…
The Pentagon assesses that Ukraine has enough soldiers to fight for six to 12 more months, one official said. After that, he said, it will face a steep shortage. <
Ukraine never had a chance to win a contest with Russia. The correlation of forces where never in favor of Ukraine. It had neither the men, money or industry to win the war. Nor did the West ever intended to provide those. The U.S. aim was and is to weaken Russia, not to defeat it. That would be too dangerous (think nukes).
As UWDude remarked in a recent comment (edited):
Again, at the outset, Russia vs Ukraine, a whole bunch of bullshit was spewed about how weak Russia was to build a case for Ukraine having a chance, when every casual observer could see Russia would win. Like watching a bear tangle with a doe, and people saying bears are not that powerful and a doe's kick could kill a bear if in the right place.
Ukraine having a chance was just people lying to themselves, when the truth was evident from the start.
At least some of the profession propagandists are smart enough to recognize that the fairytales they write are just that and have nothing to do with reality. Other propagandists, often politicians, are falling for their own narrative. They once did believe that Ukraine was winning. They once did believe that the war was at a stalemate. They will now come to believe that Ukraine is losing the war.
Let's hope that they will derive the correct consequences from it.
(Make peace you fools!)