Ukraine's Struggle for Narrative Control and Military Advantage

As Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces continues, there is a battle to shape the narrative and influence global perception of the war. Ukrainian and Western officials are working to manage expectations and maintain support, as fears of a frozen conflict and dwindling international backing loom. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine has only a week to live if Western nations stop sending weapons. Controlling the narrative is crucial for Ukraine to maintain public support, but restrictions on media access and Russia's propaganda machine pose challenges. Western officials have tried to highlight Ukrainian progress, but concerns about chaos in Congress and criticism from some quarters have added urgency to the public messaging campaign.